| Kita-Osaka Kyuko 8000 series Polestar | |
|---|---|
 A refurbished 8000 series set, August 2013 | |
| In service | 1986–present |
| Manufacturer | Alna Kōki |
| Replaced | 2000 series |
| Constructed | 1986–1993 (9-car sets), 1995–1996 (additional 10th cars) |
| Refurbished | 2012, 2014–2015, 2018– |
| Scrapped | 2014– |
| Number built | 70 vehicles (7 sets) |
| Number in service | 30 vehicles (3 sets) |
| Number preserved | 2 vehicles and 1 cab end |
| Number scrapped | 37 vehicles (4 sets) |
| Successor | 9000 series |
| Formation | 10 (originally 9) cars per trainset |
| Fleet numbers | 8001–8007 |
| Capacity | 1,280 per set |
| Operators | Kita-Osaka Kyuko Railway |
| Depots | Momoyamadai Depot |
| Lines served | Kitakyu Namboku Line, Midōsuji Line |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Aluminium |
| Width | 2,890 mm (9 ft 6 in) |
| Height | 3,745 mm (12 ft 3.4 in) |
| Doors | 4 pairs per side |
| Maximum speed | 70 km/h (43 mph) |
| Traction system | Variable-frequency (GTO) |
| Acceleration | 3.0 km/(h⋅s) (1.9 mph/s) |
| Deceleration |
|
| Electric system(s) | 750 V DC |
| Current collector(s) | Third rail |
| Safety system(s) | WS-ATC |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
The Kita-Osaka Kyuko 8000 series (北大阪急行電鉄8000形), branded as Polestar, is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by Kita-Osaka Kyuko Railway on the Kitakyū Namboku Line in north Osaka since 1986, with through service to the Osaka Metro Midōsuji Line.
Design
The 8000 series was introduced in 1986 to replace ageing rolling stock which were mostly derived from Osaka Municipal Subway rolling stock. It was also the first Kitakyū rolling stock type to feature air conditioning in the passenger interiors and driver cabs. It was also one of the three recipients of the 27th Laurel Prize of the Japan Railfan Club.
Formation
As of 1 April 2015, five out of the original seven 10-car sets were in service, formed as shown below, with five motored ("M") cars and five non-powered trailer ("T") cars, and car 1 at the Senri-Chuo end.
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Tc1 | M0 | Te | M1 | M2' | Te' | T | M1 | M2 | Tc2 |
| Numbering | 800x | 810x | 820x | 830x | 840x | 850x | 860x | 870x | 880x | 890x |
Each car includes a wheelchair space.
History
The first train, set 8001, was introduced on 1 July 1986.
Withdrawals commenced in 2014, with 8002 in August 2014, and set 8004 in February 2015. Set 8001 carried a special headboard from late February 2016 to mark its scheduled withdrawn in March 2016.
Preserved examples
- 8001 + 8901 cab end: Momoyamadai Depot, Osaka
- 8005: Privately preserved in Tamba-Sasayama, Hyōgo.
References
- ^ 【北大阪急行】「8001 LAST RUN」 ヘッドマーク掲出 [Kita-Osaka Kyuko 8000 series carries "8001 Last Run" headboard]. Tetsudo Hobidas (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
- ^ 私鉄車両編成表 2015 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2015] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 23 July 2015. pp. 156, 200. ISBN 978-4-330-58415-7.